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The bulletin of Atlanta University, 1908 no. 180

The bulletin of Atlanta University

Number 180 Atlanta, Georgia March, 1908 Impressions of Tuskegee A short time ago, the writer had the privilege of attending the Annual Conference at Tuskegee Institute. In the Farmers' Conference he heard the Negroes who had gathered from many parts of Alabama ,and the neighboring states tell of their success in improving their conditions of life, in paying for their farms, and in increasing the length of the school term. He heard Mr. Washington urge them to do still better, to provide education for their children at all costs, and to improve the moral and religious tone of their communities. He saw the Conference put itself on record as being heartily in accord with the great prohibition movement of the Southern States. The next day, the writer attended the Workers' Conference and listened to reports from another set of representatives of the colored people, more educated and refined than those of the previous day, who told what their schools were doing for the improvement of their immediate communities; how their teachers and students were helping in the Sunday-schools, nursing the sick, keeping the women from loafing on the streets of the towns, fighting intemperance, and in other ways making their schools a blessing to the people around them. He learned how the women's' organizations were supporting reform farms for the wayward colored youth of Alabama and Georgia; in the former state wholly by their own efforts, in the latter with a little aid outside of their race. He felt the spirit of hopefulness and of determination to do more for the advancement of their people that characterized these conferences. The writer returned to Atlanta with an increased and deepened feeling that the work of schools like Atlanta University has been and will be for years to come one of urgent necessity in the upraising and development of the colored people in the South. And there is a good reason why a visit to Tuskegee Institute, a type of school which is appealing to many as the only solution of vexing race problems, should arouse the thought that Atlanta is having a part in the foundation work of industrial edu- cation for the masses. The teachers present at these conferences showed plainly the marks of refinement and education. Mere contact with books and tools did not produce this culture. It is the personality of the teacher, not the subject taught, that has the great influence. Hence the teachers of the colored people must be brought into contact with cultured minds if they are to be capable of uplifting their people. That this is recognized by those who have in charge the industrial schools which have been established in the South may be easily seen if one will investigate the qualifications of their instructors. Some of those at Tuskegee Institute are graduates of Northern colleges and schools of technology. As for Atlanta University's work in connection with these schools, it may be said that thirty per cent of her college and many of her normal graduates are in charge of or teaching in them. Industrial education is certainly doing much in the solving of the race problem, but the strength of the industrial school system lies in the university. G. K. H. Day of Prayer Friday, February 7th, was observed as the day of prayer at Atlanta University. The afternoon school exercises were suspended and after meeting in separate class prayer-meetings with teachers the students assembled in chapel, where it was our privilege to listen to an earnest and forceful address by the Rev. Smith Baker, D. D. From a Dive to a Mission Rev. H. H. Proctor invited President Ware to be present at the opening of the Decatur Street Mission of the First Congregational Church on Sunday, February 29th. The basement in which this mission is opened was formerly one of the worst dives in the city. Great interest has been manifested in the transformation. Over a hundred were present the first day, most of the number from the vicinity of the mission. In introducing President Ware, Dr. Proctor announced that most of those who were to have charge of this work were Atlanta University students or graduates. The Town=City of Atlanta University In the January issue of the Scroll is a contributed article by Prof. Webster describing some experiments in self-government inaugurated under his supervision among the town boys. The plan originated some years ago by the appointment of a committee of town boys to look into and settle a matter requiring discipline among themselves. Prof. Webster describes the result as follows: Somewhat to my surprise, but greatly to my satisfaction, this committee decided that the breaking of the glass was an accident and that the offense consisted in the play, and that all in the play were equally guilty. A fine sufficient to cover the glass and setting was assessed, and each hoy recognized the authority of his own committee and paid the fine. Since that time other cases have arisen which have been handled in a similar way by a committee of the town students. A simple form of organization was instituted, a constitution drawn up and a permanent committee elected, assisted by a Chief of Police, who weekly appointed from each class students who served for the week as policemen. The committee really constituted a court to try cases and decide penalties. It was rather interesting to note that early in the history of the committee the Georgia method was adopted and students were fined or condemned to a certain form of chain-gang. In many cases the students preferred to pay the fine, so there was money in the treasury to meet certain exigencies as they arose. Two or three doors broken by the boys in rough play were repaired by special fines assessed upon the delinquents. "Suffrage Laws in the South a Step Forward" Under this heading the Atlanta Constitution quotes the following from Secy. Taft's Concord, N. H., address: The fifteenth amendment to secure the right of the ballot to the Negro was not so successful. In time this right was practically nullified. But the leaders of the South found that this was demoralizing. Seeking a remedy, they passed "exclusion laws," legal on their face, but so administered as to wrong the Negro. This is deplorable, yet the step forward has been taken from open violence. The time is coming when the Negro, indispensable to the South as an economic factor, will establish himself fully as a citizen. Does it seem wise to dwell upon this "step forward"? Should we not rather emphasize the next step forward and hope that it will be a long step and that it may be quickly taken?

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Transcript

Number 180 Atlanta, Georgia March, 1908 Impressions of Tuskegee A short time ago, the writer had the privilege of attending the Annual Conference at Tuskegee Institute. In the Farmers' Conference he heard the Negroes who had gathered from many parts of Alabama ,and the neighboring states tell of their success in improving their conditions of life, in paying for their farms, and in increasing the length of the school term. He heard Mr. Washington urge them to do still better, to provide education for their children at all costs, and to improve the moral and religious tone of their communities. He saw the Conference put itself on record as being heartily in accord with the great prohibition movement of the Southern States. The next day, the writer attended the Workers' Conference and listened to reports from another set of representatives of the colored people, more educated and refined than those of the previous day, who told what their schools were doing for the improvement of their immediate communities; how their teachers and students were helping in the Sunday-schools, nursing the sick, keeping the women from loafing on the streets of the towns, fighting intemperance, and in other ways making their schools a blessing to the people around them. He learned how the women's' organizations were supporting reform farms for the wayward colored youth of Alabama and Georgia; in the former state wholly by their own efforts, in the latter with a little aid outside of their race. He felt the spirit of hopefulness and of determination to do more for the advancement of their people that characterized these conferences. The writer returned to Atlanta with an increased and deepened feeling that the work of schools like Atlanta University has been and will be for years to come one of urgent necessity in the upraising and development of the colored people in the South. And there is a good reason why a visit to Tuskegee Institute, a type of school which is appealing to many as the only solution of vexing race problems, should arouse the thought that Atlanta is having a part in the foundation work of industrial edu- cation for the masses. The teachers present at these conferences showed plainly the marks of refinement and education. Mere contact with books and tools did not produce this culture. It is the personality of the teacher, not the subject taught, that has the great influence. Hence the teachers of the colored people must be brought into contact with cultured minds if they are to be capable of uplifting their people. That this is recognized by those who have in charge the industrial schools which have been established in the South may be easily seen if one will investigate the qualifications of their instructors. Some of those at Tuskegee Institute are graduates of Northern colleges and schools of technology. As for Atlanta University's work in connection with these schools, it may be said that thirty per cent of her college and many of her normal graduates are in charge of or teaching in them. Industrial education is certainly doing much in the solving of the race problem, but the strength of the industrial school system lies in the university. G. K. H. Day of Prayer Friday, February 7th, was observed as the day of prayer at Atlanta University. The afternoon school exercises were suspended and after meeting in separate class prayer-meetings with teachers the students assembled in chapel, where it was our privilege to listen to an earnest and forceful address by the Rev. Smith Baker, D. D. From a Dive to a Mission Rev. H. H. Proctor invited President Ware to be present at the opening of the Decatur Street Mission of the First Congregational Church on Sunday, February 29th. The basement in which this mission is opened was formerly one of the worst dives in the city. Great interest has been manifested in the transformation. Over a hundred were present the first day, most of the number from the vicinity of the mission. In introducing President Ware, Dr. Proctor announced that most of those who were to have charge of this work were Atlanta University students or graduates. The Town=City of Atlanta University In the January issue of the Scroll is a contributed article by Prof. Webster describing some experiments in self-government inaugurated under his supervision among the town boys. The plan originated some years ago by the appointment of a committee of town boys to look into and settle a matter requiring discipline among themselves. Prof. Webster describes the result as follows: Somewhat to my surprise, but greatly to my satisfaction, this committee decided that the breaking of the glass was an accident and that the offense consisted in the play, and that all in the play were equally guilty. A fine sufficient to cover the glass and setting was assessed, and each hoy recognized the authority of his own committee and paid the fine. Since that time other cases have arisen which have been handled in a similar way by a committee of the town students. A simple form of organization was instituted, a constitution drawn up and a permanent committee elected, assisted by a Chief of Police, who weekly appointed from each class students who served for the week as policemen. The committee really constituted a court to try cases and decide penalties. It was rather interesting to note that early in the history of the committee the Georgia method was adopted and students were fined or condemned to a certain form of chain-gang. In many cases the students preferred to pay the fine, so there was money in the treasury to meet certain exigencies as they arose. Two or three doors broken by the boys in rough play were repaired by special fines assessed upon the delinquents. "Suffrage Laws in the South a Step Forward" Under this heading the Atlanta Constitution quotes the following from Secy. Taft's Concord, N. H., address: The fifteenth amendment to secure the right of the ballot to the Negro was not so successful. In time this right was practically nullified. But the leaders of the South found that this was demoralizing. Seeking a remedy, they passed "exclusion laws," legal on their face, but so administered as to wrong the Negro. This is deplorable, yet the step forward has been taken from open violence. The time is coming when the Negro, indispensable to the South as an economic factor, will establish himself fully as a citizen. Does it seem wise to dwell upon this "step forward"? Should we not rather emphasize the next step forward and hope that it will be a long step and that it may be quickly taken?